Wood-heel-scouring machine



H. W. RUSS woo]; HEEL SCOURING MACHINE Dec. 28 1926. 1,612,470

Filed Feb. 2 1924 M 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 20

H W RUSS WOOD HEEL SCOURING MACHINE Dec. 28 1926.

Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATELNLT OFFICE.

HARLEY Vv". RUSS OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T-O MERRIMAGK WOOD HEEL 00., OF SALEM, NEW HAMPSHIRE, A CORPORATION OF'MASSAGHUSETTS.

WOOD-HEEL-SCOURING MACI-IlINE.

Application filed February 20, 1924. Serial No. 694,166.

In the manufacture of wood heels, the oporation of forming the sides of the heel, which is known as the turning operation, is performed by two rotary cutters which are successively operated, on opposite sides thereof. In performing this operation, the cut is started at the breast surface, which has previously been formed by the so called grooving operation, and is continued on each side to the middle of the back of the heel. lVhile the surfaces formed by each cutter may besupposed to blend perfectly at this meeting point, as amatter of fact, principally on account of imperfect grinding and setting of the cutter blades, they frequently do not blend, so that a shoulder, or a ridge or burr is usually formed or left at the point where the cutter which last operated finished its out. While, theoretically, this shoulder ridge or burr will be left in the middle line of the back of the heel, yet in practice it is often'left at a short distance to one side or the other of this middle line. The point at which the irregularity is left depends largely on the operator, although a lot of heels turned by the same operator are usually the same in this respect.

It is usually necessary to blend these sur faces or remove this ridge or burr before the heel is covered, and this operation has usually been done by means of an ordinary cylindrical buffing roll. In performing this operation on the bufing roll, the operator usually holds the heel in his fingers base down and moves the heel up or down while he holds the back of the heel against the roll. This operation, when performed in this manner, is frequently performed unsatisfactorily, because the operator is liable to form a flattened surface on the back of the heel and is also liable, in performing this operation as rapidly as it is usually performed, to engage some other portion of the heel than that which should be engaged to remove the ridge or burr or blend the surfaces, so that the intendedoperation will not be performed at all, this being p'art ly due to carelessness and partly to the inability of the operator to see whether he is performing the work correctly.

faces on the back of the heel may be avoided and the surfaces, when finished, will be rounded transversely thereof, and which will enable the operator to perform the operation more rapidly than with the ordinary buffing roll and with less physical exertion.

I accomplish these objects in the manner hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention and illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig, 2- is a side elevation of the abrasive strip holder.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a detail view in perspective and partly in vertical section of a portion .of the abrasive strip holder.

Fig. 5 is a detail view in horizontal section illustrating the manner of engagement of the abrasive strip with the heel blank.

Fig. 6 is a'perspective view of the abrasive strip holder.

Figs. 7 and 8. are detail sectional views of the abrasive strip clamping means which I employ.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of one end of the holder.

As illustrated in the drawing, the machine may comprise any suitable form of frame 1, having a horizontal middle support 2 .on which the heel blanks tobe operated on may be readily placed and conveniently held in inverted position by any suitable means. Such means preferably comprises a base block 3, on which a. flat metal plate 4: is secured and in which a side gage pin 5 is mounted, and breast gage block 6, which is adapted to be clampedthereon in adjusted position by means of a strap 7 and clamping screw 8, so that the heel blank X may be held in position to be operated on, as hereinafter described.

I further provide a rectangular shaped bracket 10, which is connected at one edge by hinges 11 to the frame 1 to swing about a horizontal axis and two pairs of parallel links 12 and 14 are respectively connected at their lower ends by pivots 13 and 15 to the opposite edges of said bracket at di rectly opposite points, so that each link 12 swings about the same axis as the corre sponding link 14. The upper ends of the links 12 and 14, at each end of the bracket 10 are pivotally connected in axial alignment by bolts 16, 17 respectively, to opposite sides of supporting blocks 18 and 19, and an adjusting rod 20 is rotatably mounted in said blocks at a short distance above the pivot bolts 16, 17. Cylindrically shaped clamp members 22, 24, of equal diameter are arranged on said rod in central alignment therewith at the adjacent sides of said bloc rs 18, 19, said rod having a right hand J thread connection with one of said members 22 or 24, and a left hand thread con nection with the other, so that when the rod is rotated in one direction, it will separate said members and when rotated in the opposite direction, it will move them towards each other, a handle 25 being provided on the rear end of the rod for the purpose of convenient adjustment. A pair of yokes 26, 28 are provided, one for each clamp member 22, 24, and the end portions of V-shaped round wire straps 27, 29 are secured in each yoke, the intermediate portion of each strap being bent semi-circularly to correspond to the curvature of the surfaces of the members 22, 24 and extending about the same. Clamping screws 30, 31 are threaded in the yokes 26, 23 and are arranged to be screwed against the clamp members 22, 24, so as to clamp the semi-circular portions of the straps against the opposite portion of the members. The portions of the holders which are engaged by the straps are preferablyslightly grooved to receive said straps, as shown in Fig. 8. An oblong, relatively narrow flexible abrasive strip 32 of sandpaper, or similar material, is provided, of a width approximately equal to hal the length of the circumference of the members 22, 24 and of a length sufficient to extend between said members, and the end portions of said strip are clamped against the semi-cylindrical faces of said members by means of the straps 27, 29 which are drawn thereagainst by means of the clamping screws 30. A pair of stiff rods 34, 36 are mounted at their ends in the yokes 26, 28 and extended therebetween in parallel ism, the rod 34 being secured in the yoke 28 at one end and slidable at the other end in the yoke 26 and the rod 36 being likewise secured in the yoke 26 and slidable in the yoke 28, so that said rods act to hold the yokes in alignment and permit them to be moved to and from each other when the relative position of clamps are adjusted by means of the rod 20, to adjust the tension of the abrasive strip. Stop brackets 40, 41 are mounted on shelf 10 in position to limit the swinging movements of the links 12 and 14.

W hen the end portions of sand paper 32, are clamped against the faces of the members 22, 24, by the straps 27, 29, it is bent so that a transversely convex, or semi-cylindrical abrasive surface is provided, and as the straps are arranged opposite the grooves formed in the members 22, 24, they will draw the strip portions which they engaged into said grooves, so that the strip will be securely attached. in practice, the tension of the strip will be so adjusted by the rod 20 that it will bend inward to an extent when pressure is appliet. to the abrasive surface.

In using the device, the operator holds the heel on the plate 4 with his left hand, with one side against the pin 5 and the breast against the gage 6, which is so adjusted that the back portion the heel base slightly overhangs or projects beyond the end of the plate 4, as shown in n 1, 3, and 4. In this position the middle longitudinal line of the heel surface at its back will lie in a vertical plane which bisects the heel along said line and is perpendicular to the surface of the abrasive strip, so that, when the strip is moved into engag ment with the surface of the heel, it will engage the same tangentially at said middle line and at right angles to said line. He also grasps the yoke 26 with his right hand, using it as a handle and draws it towards him so that the links 12 and 14 are in upright position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, in which position the rear end portion of the abrasive strip will be opposite the back of the heel. He then, or at the same time, swings the abrasive strip holder laterally towards the heel, this being permitted by the hinges 11, until the strip is engaged with the back of the heel at its top, as indi cated in the dotted line position of Fig. 1. He then pushes rearward on the yoke 26, so that the strip is drawn across the back of the heel and at the same time as the links are thrown rearward, it follows down the back of the heel to its base, blending the surfaces, or removing the ridge, or burr which may have been formed on the back thereof. As the links are of equal length and parallel, the action will be similar to that in a parallel ruler, as the abrasive strip will be supported in a horizontal position during the entire movement, and will be held against horizontal. swing movement from the tangential position with relation to the middle of the back of the heel.

As the abrasive strip holder is moved downwardly and longitudinally, it will alsobe moved laterally according to the pitch or' slope of the heel, this movement being permitted by the upward swinging movement of the bracket 10 on its hinges 11, and with a heel of the type illustrated, the bracket will be swung approximately from the declining position, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, to a slightly upwardly inclined position, such as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. This upward swinging motion of the bracket 10 is due to the supporting action of the downwardly inclined surface of the heel, as the strip holder is pushed longitudinall'y, the extent thereof depending on the pitch, or inclination of the back side of the heel.

The abrasive strip, therefore, is so sup ported that it has a free lateral movement, or a downward and sidewise movement in an oblique direction, according to the curvature and inclination, or longitudinal contour of the middle of the back surface of the heel, and at the same time, a longitudinal movement, while it is at all times held by its supporting means in a position which is approximately perpendicular to the vertical plane which bisects the heel along the middle longitudinal line of its back surface. As the holder which carries the abrasive strip is necessarily of substantial weight, and as the heel, when held in position to be operated on, is held in an inverted position, so that the entire, or practically the entire back surface, which is engaged by the strip, faces upward and declines from the top to the base of the heel towards the strip, the greater portion of the weight of the holder will be supported by the heel. That is, the gravity of the holder materially assists the operator in pressing the abrasive strip against the heel, so that when performing the operation, his strength will be largely exerted in pushing the holder from him, as the strip follows along down the back of the heel. Moreover, the arrange ment is such that the operator may press downward on the holder, as he pushes it from him without particular effort, so that the operation may be performed with slight physical exertion.

The purpose of clamping the heel on the flat metal plate 4 in such a position that its back portion projects beyond the edge of the plate is to enable the abrasive strip to operate on the back surface of the heel throughout. its. entire length and to prevent engagement of the strip with any portion of the machine at any time during the operation. To avoid such engagement, the plate a, which is thin, is projected to an extent beyond the frame portion on which it rests. lVith this arrangement, as the operator finishes his stroke, the abrasive strip, with its holder, merely swings into space, as itbecomes disengaged from the heel and its forward and downward movement will ordinarily be arrested by the operator, who then draws it back to its initial position.

lVhile the heel will usually be so positioned on its support that the ridge on its back, which is to be removed, will be engaged by the abrasive surface when the longitudinal lines of said surface are straight, it will frequently occur that the ridge will be at one side Or the other of such a position. For this reason, the longitudinal tension on the abrasive strip will be so adjusted that, when the strip is pressed against the back of the heel, it will yield sufliciently to permit the strip to be wrapped about the heel transversely to a sufficient extent to embrace, or engage allthe surface portion in which the ridge would be likely to be located, as indicated in Fig. 5. As the strip is. carried over the surface, it will not only engage the ridge wherever it is located, within certain limits, but will also have a rounding action transversely of the heel, so that the formation of flattened surfaces on the back of the heel, as often occurs when the bufiing roll is used, will be avoided.

It will also be noted that, as the flexible strip is supported so that it is somewhat yieldable, it will conform perfectly to the longitudinal configuration of the heel, as well as to its transverse curvature, as shown in Fig. 4%. As a result,the ridge or burr on the back of the heel will not only be removed, but the meeting surfaces, formed by the two cutters, will be practically perfectly blended. As the holder may be moved rotatably in the bearing blocks 18, 19, the operator is en abled to engage practically all portions of the abrasive surface between the clamp with the work. The operation is rapid, as, usually, it is only necessary to draw the abrasive strip across the heel once.

I claim:

1. That improvement in the art of scouring the transversely convex back surface of a wood heel which consists in holding the heel in a predetermined position, so that its back surface may be conveniently operated on, supporting an elongated flexible abrasive strip at its ends, so that its intermediate portion will be so tensioned that it may be conformed to said surface transversely and longitudinally, positively holding the strip approximately perpendicularly to the plane which bisects the heel along the middle longitudinal line of its back surface and then moving the strip longitudinally and transversely while it is held in said perpendicular relation and engaged with said surface.

2. That improvement in the art of scouring the transversely convex back surface of a wood heel which consists in holding a heel so that 1ts back surface faces upward, supsix porting an elongated flexible abrasive strip at its ends, so that its intermediate portion will be so tensioned that it may be conformed to said surface transversely and longitudinally, positively holding the strip approxi mately perpendicularly to the plane which bisects the heel along the middle longitudinal line of its back surface and hen moving the strip longitucinally and at the same time transversely, while it is positively held in said perpendicular relation and engaged with said surface.

3. T hat improvem it in the art of scouring the transversely convex back surface of a wood heel which consists in holding a heel in an inverted position so that its back surface faces upward and extends obliquely downward from top LO base, supporting an elongated flexible abrasive strip at its ends, so that its intermediate portion will. be so tensioned tnat it may be conformed to said surface transversely and longitudinally, positively holding the stri in all posit-ions thereof ZllQPIOIZl tely p n sly to the plane which bisects th ng the middle longitudinal line of its baclr surface and then manually moving the strip longitudinally transvers y and downwardly according to the inclination said back line, while engaged with said surface ami while held in said perpendicular relation.

4. That improvement in the art of on ing the transversely convex: back su a wood heel which coneis in an inverted posiion so that its r. face faces upward and extends obliquely downward from top to base, supporting all elongated flexible abrasive strip its ends by a holder of substantial weight, so that its intermediate portion may be con or ed to said surface transversely and ion,

, rudinally, supporting such holoer in position constantly to hold the strip ap noximately perpendicularly to the plane which bisects the heel along the middle longitudinal line of its back surface and to permit free n ual and gravity actuation thereof, then manually moving the holder to move the strip longitudinally and downwardly in a oblique direction, according to the inclination of said line, while it is held in said perpendicular relation and pressed by the gravity of the holoer against said. surface.

5. That inproven'ient in the art of scouring the transversely convex back surface of a wood heel which consists in holdi g a heel so that its back surface faces upw porting an elongated flexible abrasive s g at its ends, so that it has a transversely corvez; abrasive surface thruout its length and its intermediate portion is loosely support d to permit it to be conformed to the transverse and longitudinal curvature of the back surface of the heel, positively holding the strip approximately perpendicularly to the plane which bisects the heel along the mid dle longitudinal line of its back surface, and then causing the strip to have a combined longitudii'ial and transverse movement while held in said perpendicular relation and moved from end to end of said surface while engaged there *ith.

6. That improvement in the art of scouring the tra sversely conver 2 l longitudinally curved back surface of a Wood-heel which consists in so supporting the heel in a ilIZBCl inverted position, so that its back surface extends obliquely downward from top to base and a free space is provided below and at one side of said surface, supporting an elon 'ated, flexibly abrasive strip at its ends, a holder of substantial weight, so that the intermediate portion of the strip may be conformed to said surface transversely and longitudinally and so that the strip will be consta" tly held approximately perpendicularly to the vertical plane which bisects the heel along the middle longitudinal line of its back surface, and manual and gravity action of said strip will be permitted to carry the same longitudinally and at the same time obliquely downward into said' open space while engaged with said surface.

7. A n'iachine for couring a transversely rounded and longitudinally curved surface means for holding the work with its longitudinal lines in a vertical position, a relatively narrow flexible abrasive strip, a support therefor mounted to swing about a horizontal axis, a pair of parallel links pivo-tally mounted at their lower ends on said support, two pairs of clamp members one member of each of which is pivotally connected to the upper end of one of said links and has a clamping face at one side, said faces being arranged in horizontal alignmen to engage the back side of the opposite end portions of said strip, to hold the latter horizontally in transverse engagement with the surface of the work on said holdmeans and means for rigidly connecting said members having adjusting means for varying the proximity of said members to lit) vary the tension of the strip held thereby, the

other clamp members being arranged to clamp said strip end portions against said faces to conform the same thereto.

8. A. machine for scouring a transversely rounded and longitudinally curved surface col a w rlr support, a relatively long and narrow strip of flexible abrasive material, a holder therefor comprising two pairs of clamp members, each hay ing; one of the members thereof provided with side faces, and having means for constantly holding the same with their faces in alignment to receive the bacl: side of the end portions of the strip, means for moving the other clamp members to clamp the strip against said faces, means combined with the holding means of said members permitting relative adjustment of said clamps to vary the tension of the strip as it extends therebetween, means for holding said members against relative lateral displacement from their aligned positions in the different positions of adjustment thereof, to prevent movement of the end portions of the strip out of line, and means for supporting said holder per"- mitting said strip to be manually moved longitudinally and laterally in transverse relation to the work on said support.

9. A machine for scouring a transversely rounded and longitudinally curved surface. comprising a work support, a. holder for a flexible abrasive strip comprising two pairs of clamp members, one member of each clamp having a cylindrical face for receiving the back side of the end portions of the strip, said faces being of equal diameter and arranged in .aXial alignment, and the other members of said clamps being adapted to clamp said strip end portions against said faces to bend the strip into semi-cylindrical form, means for rigidly connecting said cylindrical clamp members, ant supporting means therefor arranged to permit rotational movement thereof about their axes, said supporting means being arranged to carry said strip longitudinally and per nit simultaneous lateral movement thereof.

10. In a wood heel scouring machine, a frame having a heel support, a holder for a strip of flexible abrasive material comprising two pairs of clamp members, a rod havingone member of each clamp mounted for relative adjustment thereon, a slidable connection between said adjustably mounted members for holding them in alignment in their different positions of adjustment,a pair of holding blocks in which the opposite end portions of said rod are mounted and a pair of parallel links pivotally connected at corresponding ends to said frame and at their opposite ends to said holding blocks respectively.

11. In a wood heel scouring machine, a heel support, a holder for a strip of flexible abrasive material comprising two correspondingly formed clamp members, a rod on which said members are mounted and arranged for relative adjustment longitudinally thereof, said members each having a cylindrical face concentrically arranged with relation to the rod, means for clamping the abrasive strip against said faces to hold the strip in semi-cylindrical form, supporting blocks in which said rod is rotatably mounted and means for supporting said block to permit simultaneous longitudinal and transverse movement of the holder in operative relation with said heel support.

12. In a wood heel scouring machine, a heel support, a holder for a strip of flexible. abrasive material comprising a pair-.of clamp members having cylindrically formed faces, a rod on which said members are mounted, and arranged in central alignment and for adjustment longitudinally thereof, a yok for each clamp member having a strap arranged to extend about the face thereof and having ans engaging the member for clamping the strip therebetween, mean-s extending etween said yokes for holding them in alignment and arranged to permit relative adjustment of said members when in clamped position, and supporting means for said members arranged to permit combined longitudinal and lateral movement in operative relation to said heel support.

13. In a wood heel scouring machine a heel support, a holder for astrip of flexible abrasive material comprising a pair of clamp members having cylindrically formed faces, a rod on which said members are mounted and arranged in central alignment and for adjustment longitudinally thereof, a yoke for each clamp member having a strap arranged to extend about the face thereof and having means engaging the member for clamping the strip therebetween, means for holding said members against relative rotational movement and supporting means connected to said rod and arranged to permit compound longitudinal and transverse movement thereof when the strip is held in operative relation to said heel support.

i l. A machine for scouring the transversely convex back surface of a heel, comprising a horizontally disposed support adapted to receive the heel base and hold the heel in inverted position, means for positioning the heel on said support so that one end of the support is disposed within theedge of the middle back portion of the heel base, an

a Air elongated abrasive strip, and means ar-.

ranged to hold, said strip in a position approximately perpendicular to the plane which bisects the heel along the middle line of its back surface, when positioned on said support, and manually movable to engage the strip with said surface and carry it longitudinall and at the same time laterally, according to the longitudinal contour of said surface and downwardly opposite. said end of said support, while the strip is held in said p rpendicular relation.

15. A machine for scouring the trans versely convex back surface of a heel, comprising a horizontally disposed support adapted to receive the heel base and hold the heel in inverted position thereon, means arranged to engage one side and the breast of the heel, to position the heel on said support so that one end of the support is disposed within the edge of the middle back portion of the heel base, an elongated abrasive strip and means arranged to hold said strip in a position approximately perpendicular to a vertical plane which bisects the heel along the middle line of its back surface when p0- sitioned on said support, and manually movable to engage the strip With said surface and carry it longitudinally and at the same time laterally according to the longitudinal contour of the surface and downwardly, opposite the end of said support,

to operate on said surface throughout its entire length While the strip is held in said perpendicular relation.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HARLEY XV. RUSS. 

